{"id":43740,"date":"2023-10-10T22:22:55","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T13:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/?p=43740"},"modified":"2026-05-27T00:43:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:43:47","slug":"italian-formal-lei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-formal-lei\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Formal Lei: When to Switch Register (B1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>In short.<\/strong> The <strong>italian formal Lei<\/strong> is the polite address used with strangers, professionals, customers, older people. Grammatically Lei is third person singular feminine, regardless of the addressee&#8217;s actual sex. Verbs go third singular (<em>come sta?<\/em>), object pronouns are <em>la, le, si<\/em>, possessives are <em>Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue<\/em>. Adjectives and past participles, however, agree with the real sex of the person you are addressing. This B1 guide walks through every piece of the italian formal Lei system: when to switch from <em>tu<\/em>, how to conjugate verbs and place pronouns, how the imperative looks, how to make the leap to <em>tu<\/em> with <em>diamoci del tu<\/em>, and how to avoid the five mistakes English speakers make most often. We close with a cheat sheet, a full dialogue at a hotel reception, a mini-challenge and a quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#ab2227;color:#ab2227\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-toc-lei\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cosa impareremo oggi<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udffb Jump to section<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#rule\">What the italian formal Lei is, in one line<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#origin\">Where the italian formal Lei comes from<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#when\">When to use Lei vs tu<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#verbs\">Verb agreement: third person singular<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pronouns\">Pronouns and possessives with Lei<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#imperative\">The polite imperative: si accomodi, mi dica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#switch\">Switching: diamoci del tu<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#traps\">Five traps for English speakers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#modern\">Modern trends: where Lei is losing ground<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dialog\">Dialogue at a hotel reception<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#challenge\">Mini-challenge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#related\">Related guides<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#quiz\">Quiz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rule\">What the italian formal Lei is, in one line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The italian formal Lei addresses one person you don&#8217;t know well: a stranger over 25, a customer, a professional, an older neighbour, a doctor. In one sentence: the italian formal Lei is the third-singular feminine treatment of anyone who deserves social distance. Grammatically Lei is third person singular feminine, a frozen survival from <em>Vostra Signoria<\/em>. Verbs go in the third singular form (<em>come sta?<\/em>, <em>cosa desidera?<\/em>), object pronouns are <em>la, le, si<\/em>, and possessives are <em>Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue<\/em>, often capitalised in formal writing. Adjectives and past participles, by contrast, agree with the addressee&#8217;s real sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The plural counterpart of the italian formal Lei in modern italian is <em>voi<\/em>, even when speaking to a group of strangers. The historical <em>Loro<\/em> (third plural formal) survives in hyper-formal restaurant service, royal protocol and old-fashioned writing, but you will rarely meet it outside a Michelin-starred dining room or a legal document. The italian formal Lei is the everyday backbone of polite address: master it and you can walk into any hotel, hospital, bank or government office without sounding rude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"origin\">Where the italian formal Lei comes from<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The italian formal Lei is younger than you might expect: the earliest written examples appear in the fifteenth century, and the form spreads through the sixteenth and seventeenth, probably under the influence of Spanish <em>usted<\/em>. Before then, italian used only two ways of addressing people: <em>tu<\/em> for familiars and <em>voi<\/em> as a courtesy form, the same pattern French still uses today with <em>tu<\/em> and <em>vous<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1938 the fascist regime banned Lei as a foreign import and forced everyone to use <em>voi<\/em>. The experiment was unpopular and short-lived: after the second world war italians went back to Lei, while <em>voi<\/em> as a singular courtesy form survives today only in some southern regional varieties, especially in Naples and parts of Sicily. If a Neapolitan grandmother says <em>voi state bene, signora?<\/em>, she is not making a mistake: she is using a regional formal address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Treccani institute notes that Lei&#8217;s spread to mean &#8220;you&#8221; probably borrows directly from Spanish chancery formulas like <em>Vostra Signoria<\/em>, which became the feminine pronoun by syntactic abbreviation. That history explains the apparently odd grammar: a man addressed with Lei takes feminine pronouns and a masculine adjective in the same sentence. The mismatch is not a bug; it is a fossilised politeness routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when\">When to use Lei vs tu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Default to the italian formal Lei in any uncertain context: with strangers, professionals, customers, older people, and in any written formal communication. Use <em>tu<\/em> with family, close friends, peers under 25 to 30, and people who have explicitly invited you to switch. When in doubt, the italian formal Lei is the safer choice for non-natives. Italians forgive a foreigner who is over-polite; they take notice quickly when a foreigner is over-familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs-when\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd0d When Lei is mandatory:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First contact with any stranger over 25 in a service context: hotel, doctor, lawyer, public official, bank clerk.<\/li>\n<li>Customer service: shopkeeper to customer, waiter to diner, hotel staff to guest, taxi driver to passenger.<\/li>\n<li>Professional context: client meetings, medical visits, banking, notary appointments, official documents.<\/li>\n<li>Older neighbour you have never spoken to, or any elderly stranger you address in the street.<\/li>\n<li>Written formal email to anyone you address as Signore, Signora, Dottore, Professoressa, Avvocato or Ingegnere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd0d When tu is normal:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Family members, close friends, classmates, romantic partner, lifelong colleagues.<\/li>\n<li>Children and teenagers (always tu, regardless of the speaker&#8217;s age).<\/li>\n<li>Peers under 25 to 30 in informal settings: gym, sports team, climbing wall, music rehearsal, hostel.<\/li>\n<li>After an explicit invitation: <em>diamoci del tu<\/em>, <em>puoi darmi del tu<\/em>, <em>per favore dammi del tu<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Among colleagues in start-ups, creative agencies, university departments, many modern workplaces default to <em>tu<\/em> from day one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-when\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task:<\/strong> Lei or tu?<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You meet a 50-year-old doctor for the first time. Lei or tu?<\/li>\n<li>You are at the climbing gym chatting with a 22-year-old. Lei or tu?<\/li>\n<li>You are writing a formal email to a hotel reception in Verona. Lei or tu?<\/li>\n<li>You are introduced to your partner&#8217;s father at a family lunch. Lei or tu?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1. <strong>Lei<\/strong> (stranger, professional, older).<\/p>\n<p>2. <strong>Tu<\/strong> (peer, casual setting, under 25).<\/p>\n<p>3. <strong>Lei<\/strong> (formal email, customer-to-business).<\/p>\n<p>4. <strong>Lei<\/strong> at first; he will most likely invite you to switch within minutes with <em>dammi del tu<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"verbs\">Verb agreement: third person singular<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the italian formal Lei the verb always takes the same form as for <em>lui<\/em> or <em>lei<\/em> in the third person: <em>parla, ha, viene, vuole, sta<\/em>. This is the first habit to build: every time you reach for the italian formal Lei, your verb goes third singular automatically. The english <em>you<\/em> maps to italian third singular here, which is the first mental switch every English speaker has to make. The polite imperative uses the third singular form of the present subjunctive: <em>parli, prenda, mi dica, si accomodi<\/em>. We unpack the imperative in its own section below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs-verbs\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd0d Verb forms with Lei (statements):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lei <strong>parla<\/strong> bene italiano. <em>You speak Italian well.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Come <strong>sta<\/strong> oggi? <em>How are you today?<\/em> (informal: come stai?)<\/li>\n<li>Cosa <strong>vuole<\/strong> per pranzo? <em>What would you like for lunch?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Lei <strong>ha<\/strong> capito? <em>Did you understand?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Dove <strong>abita<\/strong>, signora? <em>Where do you live, madam?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Quando <strong>parte<\/strong> per Padova? <em>When are you leaving for Padova?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The subject pronoun Lei is often dropped in italian, exactly as you drop <em>io<\/em> or <em>tu<\/em>. <em>Come sta?<\/em> is enough; <em>Lei come sta?<\/em> adds light emphasis or contrast (perhaps after talking to a third person). Two grammatical hints in the verb form alone, third singular plus context, already signal politeness, so the explicit pronoun is rare in everyday speech.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-verbs\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task:<\/strong> convert from tu to Lei.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vuoi un caff\u00e8?<\/li>\n<li>Hai capito la domanda?<\/li>\n<li>Dove vai stasera?<\/li>\n<li>Quando arrivi a Bologna?<\/li>\n<li>Parli inglese?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1. <strong>Vuole<\/strong> un caff\u00e8?<\/p>\n<p>2. <strong>Ha capito<\/strong> la domanda?<\/p>\n<p>3. Dove <strong>va<\/strong> stasera?<\/p>\n<p>4. Quando <strong>arriva<\/strong> a Bologna?<\/p>\n<p>5. <strong>Parla<\/strong> inglese?<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pronouns\">Pronouns and possessives with Lei<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here the italian formal Lei makes its boldest move: with the italian formal Lei the pronouns stay grammatically feminine no matter the actual sex of the addressee. Direct object is <em>la<\/em> (<em>la chiamo domani<\/em>, I will call you tomorrow). Indirect object is <em>le<\/em> (<em>le ho mandato un&#8217;email<\/em>, I sent you an email). Reflexive is <em>si<\/em> (<em>si accomodi<\/em>, please sit). Possessives are <em>Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue<\/em>, often capitalised in formal writing to distinguish them from the third-person <em>suo<\/em> (his, her, its).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adjectives and past participles, however, agree with the real sex of the person. The Treccani entry on allocutivi is explicit: when the addressee is a male, the participle is masculine even though the pronoun is feminine. Hence <em>Lei \u00e8 contento<\/em> to a man, <em>Lei \u00e8 contenta<\/em> to a woman. <em>Si \u00e8 accomodato, dottore?<\/em> to a male doctor, <em>si \u00e8 accomodata, dottoressa?<\/em> to a female one. The mismatch feels strange at first; with practice it becomes automatic.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs-pron\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd0d Pronouns and possessives in action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>La<\/strong> chiamo io domani mattina. <em>I will call you tomorrow morning.<\/em> (direct object, even for a man)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Le<\/strong> ho mandato i documenti via email. <em>I sent you the documents by email.<\/em> (indirect object)<\/li>\n<li>Mi dia il <strong>Suo<\/strong> indirizzo, per favore. <em>Could you give me your address, please.<\/em> (possessive)<\/li>\n<li>Le piace la nostra citt\u00e0? <em>Do you like our city?<\/em> (indirect object with piacere)<\/li>\n<li>Lei \u00e8 <strong>contento<\/strong> del servizio? <em>Are you happy with the service?<\/em> (to a man)<\/li>\n<li>Lei \u00e8 <strong>contenta<\/strong> del servizio? <em>Are you happy with the service?<\/em> (to a woman)<\/li>\n<li>Si \u00e8 <strong>accomodato<\/strong>, dottore? <em>Have you taken a seat, doctor?<\/em> (male doctor)<\/li>\n<li>Si \u00e8 <strong>accomodata<\/strong>, dottoressa? <em>Have you taken a seat, doctor?<\/em> (female doctor)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A note on the capital S<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In careful written italian the possessives connected to the italian formal Lei are often capitalised (<em>Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue<\/em>), and the pronouns can be too (<em>La, Le<\/em>). The capital is a typographic courtesy that prevents confusion between formal Lei and the third-person <em>lei<\/em> (she). In casual emails, text messages and social media the capital is dropped; in legal letters, formal job applications, official correspondence and academic emails it is still expected. Both styles are accepted; capital Lei signals extra formality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"imperative\">The polite imperative: si accomodi, mi dica<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walk into any italian shop, office or hotel and you will hear the same five phrases on repeat: <em>si accomodi<\/em> (please sit), <em>mi dica<\/em> (tell me, how can I help), <em>non si preoccupi<\/em> (don&#8217;t worry), <em>mi scusi<\/em> (excuse me), <em>prego, si serva<\/em> (please help yourself). These are all imperatives addressed with the italian formal Lei, and they share one grammar: third singular present subjunctive. The polite imperative is where the italian formal Lei meets you most often in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mechanics are tidy. For <em>-are<\/em> verbs the ending switches from <em>-a<\/em> to <em>-i<\/em>: <em>parlare<\/em> becomes <em>parli<\/em>, <em>aspettare<\/em> becomes <em>aspetti<\/em>. For <em>-ere<\/em> and <em>-ire<\/em> verbs the ending switches to <em>-a<\/em>: <em>prendere<\/em> becomes <em>prenda<\/em>, <em>aprire<\/em> becomes <em>apra<\/em>, <em>finire<\/em> becomes <em>finisca<\/em>. Irregular subjunctives carry their own forms: <em>dire<\/em> gives <em>dica<\/em>, <em>fare<\/em> gives <em>faccia<\/em>, <em>andare<\/em> gives <em>vada<\/em>, <em>venire<\/em> gives <em>venga<\/em>, <em>stare<\/em> gives <em>stia<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pronouns in the polite imperative go <strong>before<\/strong> the verb, not attached to it. <em>Mi dica<\/em>, not <em>dicami<\/em>. <em>Si accomodi<\/em>, not <em>accomodisi<\/em>. <em>Me lo dia<\/em>, not <em>diamelo<\/em>. This is the opposite of the familiar <em>tu<\/em> imperative, where pronouns attach to the verb: <em>dimmi<\/em>, <em>siediti<\/em>, <em>dammelo<\/em>. Many learners carry the <em>tu<\/em> habit over to Lei and produce sentences like <em>dicami quando arriva<\/em>, which sound oddly off to italian ears.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs-imp\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd0d The everyday polite imperatives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Si accomodi<\/strong>, prego. <em>Please have a seat.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mi dica<\/strong>, in cosa posso aiutarla? <em>Tell me, how can I help you?<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Non si preoccupi<\/strong>, glielo mando subito. <em>Don&#8217;t worry, I will send it right away.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mi scusi<\/strong>, pu\u00f2 ripetere? <em>Excuse me, could you repeat?<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Prego, si serva<\/strong>. <em>Please help yourself.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mi segua<\/strong>, le mostro la camera. <em>Follow me, I will show you the room.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Aspetti<\/strong> un attimo, controllo subito. <em>Wait a moment, I will check right away.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Mi creda<\/strong>, non \u00e8 colpa Sua. <em>Believe me, it is not your fault.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The negative imperative with the italian formal Lei follows the same rule: <em>non si preoccupi<\/em>, <em>non parli adesso<\/em>, <em>non vada via<\/em>. Compare with the familiar <em>tu<\/em> negative, which uses the infinitive: <em>non parlare!<\/em>, <em>non andare via!<\/em>. Two completely different patterns for the same idea, depending on register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"switch\">Switching: diamoci del tu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shift from the italian formal Lei to <em>tu<\/em> is a small but important moment in italian social life. The traditional formula is <em>diamoci del tu<\/em> (let&#8217;s call each other tu) or <em>possiamo darci del tu?<\/em> (can we use tu?). The proposal usually comes from the older or more senior person, and proposing the switch yourself when you are the younger party can sound presumptuous. Once accepted, both parties switch immediately and stay there: forgetting and slipping back into Lei after the shift sounds like distancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The verbs around this ritual are surprisingly specific. <em>Dare del tu a qualcuno<\/em> means to address someone as tu. <em>Dare del Lei<\/em> means to address someone as Lei. The reverse construction asks for the change: <em>posso darti del tu?<\/em>, <em>posso darle del tu?<\/em>, <em>diamoci del tu<\/em>. Notice that the speaker still uses Lei (<em>darle<\/em>) in the very act of proposing the switch, a small linguistic courtesy until the other side accepts.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs-switch\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd0d The switch in action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Diamoci del tu<\/strong>, \u00e8 pi\u00f9 comodo. <em>Let&#8217;s call each other tu, it is easier.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Possiamo <strong>darci del tu<\/strong>? <em>Can we use tu?<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Mi <strong>pu\u00f2 dare del tu<\/strong>, la prego. <em>Please call me tu.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Continuiamo a <strong>darci del Lei<\/strong> per ora. <em>Let&#8217;s keep using Lei for now.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Le va se <strong>ci diamo del tu<\/strong>? Lavoreremo insieme per mesi. <em>Are you OK if we switch to tu? We&#8217;ll be working together for months.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"traps\">Five traps for English speakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trap 1: Lei is third singular, not second<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest mental shift in the italian formal Lei: <em>Lei<\/em> takes <em>parla, ha, viene<\/em>, the same verb form as <em>he\/she<\/em>. <em>Lei parli<\/em> would be wrong as a statement (that is the imperative form). For declarative sentences use <em>Lei parla italiano<\/em>, not <em>Lei parli<\/em>. The english <em>you speak<\/em> maps to italian third singular here, not second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trap 2: pronouns are feminine even for men<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the italian formal Lei, <em>la chiamo io<\/em> works for any addressee, male or female. The <em>la<\/em> is the feminine direct-object pronoun matching the grammatical feminine of Lei, not the actual sex of the person. Same for <em>le ho detto<\/em> (I told you, indirect object): <em>le<\/em> regardless of sex. English speakers instinctively reach for <em>lo chiamo io<\/em> when addressing a man, which is wrong with Lei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trap 3: adjectives agree with the real sex<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the italian formal Lei being grammatically feminine, adjectives and past participles agree with the addressee&#8217;s real sex. <em>Lei \u00e8 contento<\/em> (to a man), <em>Lei \u00e8 contenta<\/em> (to a woman). <em>Si \u00e8 accomodato<\/em> (male client), <em>si \u00e8 accomodata<\/em> (female client). The pronouns stay feminine; the adjectives do not. This split feels wrong to learners; with practice it becomes natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trap 4: imperative is congiuntivo presente, not imperativo<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To give a polite order, the italian formal Lei uses the third singular form of the present subjunctive: <em>parli, prenda, mi dica, si accomodi, non si preoccupi<\/em>. The familiar imperative <em>parla!<\/em> or <em>prendi!<\/em> belongs to <em>tu<\/em>. Pronouns go BEFORE the verb in formal address: <em>mi dica<\/em>, <em>si sieda<\/em>, never <em>dicami<\/em> or <em>siediti<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trap 5: when in doubt, choose Lei<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Italians forgive a non-native who uses Lei when tu would be fine: it sounds polite, slightly old-fashioned, never offensive. The reverse mistake (using tu when Lei is expected) can sound rude or disrespectful. Default to the italian formal Lei with anyone over 25 you do not know personally and let them invite you to switch. Over-politeness is invisible; under-politeness is noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"modern\">Modern trends: where Lei is losing ground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The italian formal Lei is not standing still. Treccani notes that over the last few decades <em>tu<\/em> has been expanding into territory once reserved for the italian formal Lei. The classic example is schools: in many universities and even in some high schools, professors and students now use <em>tu<\/em> as the default, where Lei was once obligatory. Tech start-ups, creative agencies and modern open-plan offices often drop Lei from the first interview onwards. Even some banks and insurance companies now train staff to address younger clients with <em>tu<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generational divide matters too. People over 60 tend to feel that a quick switch to <em>tu<\/em> sounds careless and that the italian formal Lei is the right opening move; people under 30 often feel that holding on to Lei sounds cold or distancing. The non-reciprocal use (a superior addressed with Lei while addressing inferiors with <em>tu<\/em>) has also nearly disappeared from Italian institutions: a 1975 military circular formally eliminated it, and offices, hospitals and schools followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What remains stable is the customer-service context. Walk into a hotel, a bank, a notary office, a pharmacy or a public administration counter and you will still be addressed with the italian formal Lei from the first <em>buongiorno<\/em>. Doctors in Italy almost always start with Lei. Lawyers, accountants and architects address clients with Lei. The italian formal Lei is alive and well in any context where money, paperwork or professional reputation is at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet: italian formal Lei<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep this cheat sheet open while you build sentences with the italian formal Lei. One table sums up the whole italian formal Lei system at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Function<\/th><th>Tu (informal)<\/th><th>Lei (formal)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Subject pronoun<\/td><td>tu<\/td><td>Lei<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Verb (present)<\/td><td>parli, hai<\/td><td>parla, ha<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Direct object pronoun<\/td><td>ti<\/td><td>la<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Indirect object pronoun<\/td><td>ti<\/td><td>le<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Reflexive pronoun<\/td><td>ti<\/td><td>si<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Possessive<\/td><td>tuo, tua, tuoi, tue<\/td><td>Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Positive imperative<\/td><td>parla! prendi!<\/td><td>parli! prenda!<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Negative imperative<\/td><td>non parlare!<\/td><td>non parli!<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Pronoun + imperative<\/td><td>dimmi, dammelo<\/td><td>mi dica, me lo dia<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Adjective agreement<\/td><td>matches subject<\/td><td>matches addressee&#8217;s actual sex<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Past participle (essere)<\/td><td>matches subject<\/td><td>matches addressee&#8217;s actual sex<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Plural counterpart<\/td><td>voi<\/td><td>voi (or rare Loro)<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dialog\">Dialogue at a hotel reception<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A guest arriving in Verona for the first time. Both speakers use the italian formal Lei throughout the exchange. Notice the polite imperatives that the italian formal Lei requires, the feminine pronouns even when speaking to a male guest, and the adjective agreement with real sex (<em>stata<\/em> agreeing with the female receptionist at the end).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-dialog-lei\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina (receptionist):<\/strong> Buongiorno, <strong>la<\/strong> aiuto?<br><em>Good morning, may I help you?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Lorenzo (guest):<\/strong> Buongiorno, ho una prenotazione a nome Bianchi.<br><em>Good morning, I have a booking under Bianchi.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Mi <strong>dia<\/strong> un documento, per favore.<br><em>Please give me an ID.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Lorenzo:<\/strong> Eccola, la mia carta d&#8217;identit\u00e0.<br><em>Here it is, my ID card.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Grazie. <strong>Si accomodi<\/strong> in sala mentre preparo le chiavi.<br><em>Thank you. Please have a seat in the lounge while I get the keys ready.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Lorenzo:<\/strong> <strong>Le<\/strong> ho mandato un&#8217;email per un letto extra. L&#8217;<strong>ha<\/strong> ricevuta?<br><em>I sent you an email about an extra bed. Did you receive it?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> S\u00ec, <strong>non si preoccupi<\/strong>. La camera \u00e8 gi\u00e0 pronta con la culla.<br><em>Yes, don&#8217;t worry. The room is ready with the cot.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Lorenzo:<\/strong> Una cosa: il parcheggio interno \u00e8 disponibile? Arriviamo con due macchine.<br><em>One more thing: is the indoor parking available? We are coming with two cars.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Per la seconda macchina <strong>Le<\/strong> chiedo un sovrapprezzo di dieci euro a notte. <strong>Le<\/strong> va bene?<br><em>For the second car I&#8217;ll ask a ten-euro supplement per night. Is that OK with you?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Lorenzo:<\/strong> Va benissimo. Quando posso fare il check-in?<br><em>That&#8217;s fine. When can I check in?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Tra mezz&#8217;ora al massimo. <strong>Mi creda<\/strong>, la stanza ha una bellissima vista sul fiume.<br><em>Within half an hour. Believe me, the room has a beautiful view of the river.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Lorenzo:<\/strong> Perfetto. Lei \u00e8 <strong>stata<\/strong> davvero gentile, grazie mille.<br><em>Perfect. You have been very kind, thank you so much.<\/em> (stata: agrees with the female receptionist)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to notice in the dialogue<\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>La aiuto<\/strong>: direct object pronoun la, even when the receptionist does not yet know the guest&#8217;s sex.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mi dia, si accomodi, non si preoccupi, mi creda<\/strong>: four polite imperatives in subjunctive form, pronouns always before the verb.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Le ho mandato, Le va bene, Le chiedo<\/strong>: indirect object pronoun le, capitalised in formal writing as Le.<\/li>\n<li><strong>L&#8217;ha ricevuta<\/strong>: in the passato prossimo with avere, the past participle (ricevuta) agrees with the direct object la (the email, feminine).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lei \u00e8 stata gentile<\/strong>: stata agrees with the real sex of the addressee (the female receptionist), not with the grammatical feminine of Lei in general.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenge\">Mini-challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-final\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Final challenge:<\/strong> translate into natural italian, using the formal Lei.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Excuse me, could you tell me where the station is?<\/li>\n<li>I sent you the contract yesterday morning.<\/li>\n<li>Please have a seat, doctor. You are very punctual.<\/li>\n<li>Let&#8217;s call each other tu, it would be easier.<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;ll call you back tomorrow afternoon.<\/li>\n<li>Are you happy with the room, signora?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1. <em>Mi scusi, mi pu\u00f2 dire dov&#8217;\u00e8 la stazione?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>2. <em>Le ho mandato il contratto ieri mattina.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>3. <em>Si accomodi, dottore. Lei \u00e8 molto puntuale.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>4. <em>Diamoci del tu, sarebbe pi\u00f9 comodo.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>5. <em>Non si preoccupi, la richiamo domani pomeriggio.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>6. <em>\u00c8 contenta della camera, signora?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quiz\">Test your understanding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take the quiz below to drill the italian formal Lei: verb forms, pronouns, possessives, polite imperatives, switching to <em>tu<\/em>. The quiz mirrors the structure of the italian formal Lei sections above.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-quiz-lei\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"wpProQuiz_content\" id=\"wpProQuiz_264\">\n                    <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_time_limit\">\n            <div class=\"time\">Time limit: <span>0<\/span><\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_progress\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_checkPage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4 class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Quiz-summary<\/h4>\n\n            <p>\n                <span>0<\/span> of 2 questions completed            <\/p>\n\n            <p>Questions:<\/p>\n\n            <div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_box\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endQuizSummary\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_infopage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4>Information<\/h4>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endInfopage\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_text\">\n            <p>\n                <p style=\"text-align:center;\">&#8211;<\/p>\n            <\/p>\n\n            \n            <div>\n                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_button\" type=\"button\" value=\"Start quiz\"\n                       name=\"startQuiz\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_lock\">\n            <p>\n                You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_loadQuiz\">\n            <p>\n                Quiz is loading...            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_startOnlyRegisteredUser\">\n            <p>\n                \n    <div class=\"dante-quiz-login-box\">\n        <h2 class=\"dante-quiz-login-badge has-text-align-center\">Free Italian Quiz<\/h2>\n        <br>\n        <h3 class=\"dante-quiz-login-title has-text-align-center\">\"Italian Formal Lei: When to Switch Register (B1)\"<\/h3>\n        <p class=\"has-text-align-left\">\n            Sign up for free to try this quiz and get early access to new Italian lessons before anyone else.\n        <\/p>\n        \n        <div class=\"dante-quiz-social-buttons\">\n                <div class=\"dante-login-form\">\n        <div class=\"dante-social-btns\">\n            <a href=\"\/eng\/wp-login.php?loginSocial=google&redirect=%2Feng%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F43740\" class=\"dante-social-btn\">\n                <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path fill=\"#4285f4\" d=\"M22.56 12.25c0-.78-.07-1.53-.2-2.25H12v4.26h5.92c-.26 1.37-1.04 2.53-2.21 3.31v2.77h3.57c2.08-1.92 3.28-4.74 3.28-8.09z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#34a853\" d=\"M12 23c2.97 0 5.46-.98 7.28-2.66l-3.57-2.77c-.98.66-2.23 1.06-3.71 1.06-2.86 0-5.29-1.93-6.16-4.53H2.18v2.84C3.99 20.53 7.7 23 12 23z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#fbbc05\" d=\"M5.84 14.09c-.22-.66-.35-1.36-.35-2.09s.13-1.43.35-2.09V7.07H2.18C1.43 8.55 1 10.22 1 12s.43 3.45 1.18 4.93l2.85-2.22.81-.62z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#ea4335\" d=\"M12 5.38c1.62 0 3.06.56 4.21 1.64l3.15-3.15C17.45 2.09 14.97 1 12 1 7.7 1 3.99 3.47 2.18 7.07l3.66 2.84c.87-2.6 3.3-4.53 6.16-4.53z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n                Continue with Google            <\/a>\n            <a href=\"\/eng\/wp-login.php?loginSocial=facebook&redirect=%2Feng%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F43740\" class=\"dante-social-btn\">\n                <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path fill=\"#1877f2\" d=\"M24 12.073c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12s-12 5.373-12 12c0 5.99 4.388 10.954 10.125 11.854v-8.385H7.078v-3.47h3.047V9.43c0-3.007 1.792-4.669 4.533-4.669 1.312 0 2.686.235 2.686.235v2.953H15.83c-1.491 0-1.956.925-1.956 1.874v2.25h3.328l-.532 3.47h-2.796v8.385C19.612 23.027 24 18.062 24 12.073z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n                Continue with Facebook            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"dante-divider\"><span>or<\/span><\/div>\n        \n        <form class=\"dante-auth-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"nonce\" value=\"1f453332a3\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect\" value=\"\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43740\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"show_register\" value=\"true\">\n            \n            <!-- HONEYPOT FIELD - Anti-Bot Protection -->\n            <div style=\"position: absolute; 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Redirecting...'\n        };\n        \n        $('#email').on('input', function() {\n            const email = $(this).val();\n            const showReg = $('input[name=\"show_register\"]').val();\n            \n            clearTimeout(timeout);\n            \n            if (!email.includes('@')) {\n                resetForm();\n                return;\n            }\n            \n            timeout = setTimeout(() => {\n                $.post('https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php', {\n                    action: 'dante_check_email',\n                    email: email,\n                    nonce: $('input[name=\"nonce\"]').val()\n                }, function(r) {\n                    if (r.success) {\n                        if (r.data.exists) {\n                            setLoginMode();\n                        } else if (showReg === 'true') {\n                            setRegisterMode();\n                        } else {\n                            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         messageDiv.removeClass('dante-success dante-error').addClass('dante-' + type);\n            messageDiv.text(message).show();\n            setTimeout(() => messageDiv.hide(), 5000);\n        }\n        \n        $('.dante-auth-form').on('submit', function(e) {\n            e.preventDefault();\n            \n            const email = $('#email').val();\n            const password = $('#password').val();\n            const name = $('#name').val();\n            const gdpr = $('#gdpr').is(':checked');\n            const redirect = $('input[name=\"redirect\"]').val();\n            \n            if (!email || !password) {\n                showMessage(texts.emailPasswordRequired);\n                return;\n            }\n            \n            if (mode === 'register') {\n                if (!name) {\n                    showMessage(texts.nameRequired);\n                    return;\n                }\n                if (!gdpr) {\n                    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? texts.signIn : texts.createAccount);\n                }\n            });\n        });\n    });\n    <\/script>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n                <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_prerequisite\">\n            <p>\n                You have to finish following quiz, to start this quiz:                <span><\/span>\n            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_results\">\n            <h4 class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Results<\/h4>\n                        <p class=\"wpProQuiz_time_limit_expired\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                Time has elapsed            <\/p>\n                            <p class=\"wpProQuiz_points\">\n                    You scored <span>0<\/span> out of <span>0<\/span> points, (<span>0<\/span>)                <\/p>\n                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_catOverview\" >\n                <h4>Categories<\/h4>\n\n                <div style=\"margin-top: 10px;\">\n                    <ol>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"176\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Cloze: Lei verb agreement, pronouns and imperative<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"177\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Verifica: spot the correct Lei sentence<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                            <\/ol>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_resultsList\">\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#7b2d8b; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 0 to 40%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #e9d5ee, #7b2d8b); width:20%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Let&#8217;s strengthen the foundations on this topic.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> A <strong>10-Lesson Package<\/strong> gives you ten focused 55-minute sessions with a native teacher, at your own pace.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#7b2d8b; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">10-Lesson Package<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">One-to-one<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/vacanze.webp\" alt=\"10-Lesson Package\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Any level<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">55-minute one-to-one session on Zoom<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Your personal native teacher<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Interactive online materials<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=8\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#7b2d8b; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Get the 10-Lesson Package &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Coraggio: un passo alla volta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#ab2227; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 41 to 65%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #fde2e2, #ab2227); width:53%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Solid base. Let&#8217;s build on it.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> A <strong>weekly 1:1 lesson<\/strong> gives you the rhythm and the personalised feedback to turn what you know into what you say automatically.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#ab2227; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Weekly 1:1<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">One-to-one<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/vacanze.webp\" alt=\"Weekly 1:1\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Any level<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">55-minute one-to-one session on Zoom<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Your personal native teacher<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Interactive online materials<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=4\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#ab2227; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Book a Weekly 1:1 lesson &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Avanti tutta!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#b8860b; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 66 to 85%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #faecc4, #b8860b); width:75%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Great work. You&#8217;re ready for the group.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> In the <strong>Milano small-group course (A2-B1)<\/strong> you&#8217;ll move from solid grammar to live conversation.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#b8860b; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Milano group<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">A2-B1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano group\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Small groups, max 4 students<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Weekly live Zoom sessions<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Grammar, vocabulary, listening, writing<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#b8860b; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Join the Milano group &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Ci vediamo in classe!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#2d6a4f; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 86 to 100%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #cce5d5, #2d6a4f); width:93%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Bravissimo! You nailed it.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> Step into the <strong>Milano small-group course (A2-B1)<\/strong> to turn accurate Italian into fluent Italian.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#2d6a4f; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Milano group<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">A2-B1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano group\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Small groups, max 4 students<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Weekly live Zoom sessions<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Grammar, vocabulary, listening, writing<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#2d6a4f; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Join the Milano group &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">A presto su Zoom!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div style=\"margin: 10px 0px;\">\n                                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewDiv\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewQuestion\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewLegend\">\n                <ol>\n                    <li>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewColor\" style=\"background-color: #6CA54C;\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewText\">Answered<\/span>\n                    <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewColor\" style=\"background-color: #FFB800;\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewText\">Review<\/span>\n                    <\/li>\n                <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"review\" value=\"Review question\"\n                           class=\"wpProQuiz_button2\" style=\"float: left; display: block;\">\n                                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_quizAnker\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_quiz\">\n            <ol class=\"wpProQuiz_list\">\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>1<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>1<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Italian formal Lei: verbs, pronouns, imperative, agreement<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em>For each sentence, pick the option that respects Lei: third-singular verb, feminine pronouns (la\/le\/Suo) regardless of sex, imperative as cong. presente 3sg with pronoun before the verb, and adjectives\/PP agreeing with the addressee&#8217;s actual sex.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"color:#888;\"><em>If your keyboard doesn&#8217;t have Italian accents, you can type an apostrophe instead (e.g. <code>e'<\/code> for <code>&egrave;<\/code>, <code>perche'<\/code> for <code>perch&eacute;<\/code>).<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6591\"\n                                data-type=\"cloze_answer\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                        <hr\/><ul><li>Al mercato di Bergamo, il fruttivendolo dice alla signora Galli: \u00abBuongiorno signora, Lei (parli, parla, parlate) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"5\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(parla)<\/span><\/span> molto bene il dialetto bergamasco per essere di Torino!\u00bb<br><br><em>At the Bergamo market, the greengrocer says to Mrs Galli: \"Good morning madam, you speak Bergamasco dialect very well for someone from Turin!\"<\/em><\/li><li>In gioielleria a Pavia, la signora Verdi accoglie un cliente abituale: \u00abBuongiorno dottore, come (sta, stai, stanno) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(sta)<\/span><\/span> dopo l'intervento della settimana scorsa?\u00bb<br><br><em>At the jewellery shop in Pavia, Mrs Verdi greets a regular customer: \"Good morning doctor, how are you after last week's operation?\"<\/em><\/li><li>Nello studio dentistico di Brescia, l'assistente chiede al sig. Marchetti: \u00abLei (hai, ha, avete) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(ha)<\/span><\/span> ricevuto il preventivo che le abbiamo mandato luned\u00ec via email?\u00bb<br><br><em>At the dental clinic in Brescia, the assistant asks Mr Marchetti: \"Have you received the quote we sent you on Monday by email?\"<\/em><\/li><li>La signora Verdi rassicura il cliente: \u00abNon si preoccupi, sig. Marchetti, (ti chiamo, la chiamo, lo chiamo) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"9\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(la chiamo)<\/span><\/span> io domani mattina appena arriva l'orologio dal restauratore di Cremona.\u00bb<br><br><em>Mrs Verdi reassures the customer: \"Don't worry, Mr Marchetti, I'll call you tomorrow morning as soon as the watch arrives from the restorer in Cremona.\"<\/em><\/li><li>Il dottor Manzini scrive alla paziente: \u00abGentile sig.ra Conti, (le, ti, gli) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(le)<\/span><\/span> ho gi\u00e0 inviato la radiografia per email ieri sera, mi confermi quando l'ha aperta.\u00bb<br><br><em>Doctor Manzini writes to the patient: \"Dear Mrs Conti, I have already sent you the X-ray by email last night, please let me know when you have opened it.\"<\/em><\/li><li>Alla cassa della pasticceria di Cremona, il commesso chiede: \u00abSig.ra Conti, mi dia (il Suo numero, il tuo numero, vostro numero) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"13\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(il Suo numero)<\/span><\/span> di telefono per avvisarla quando la torta sar\u00e0 pronta sabato pomeriggio.\u00bb<br><br><em>At the till of the Cremona patisserie, the clerk asks: \"Mrs Conti, give me your phone number so I can let you know when the cake will be ready on Saturday afternoon.\"<\/em><\/li><li>La signora Verdi accoglie il cliente entrato in gioielleria: \u00abPrego signore, si (siediti, accomodate, accomodi) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"8\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(accomodi)<\/span><\/span> un attimo, vado a prendere il pezzo dalla cassaforte.\u00bb<br><br><em>Mrs Verdi welcomes the customer who has entered the jewellery shop: \"Please sir, have a seat for a moment, I'll fetch the piece from the safe.\"<\/em><\/li><li>Il tassista a Brescia accoglie il passeggero salito davanti alla stazione: \u00abBuongiorno, (mi dica, dimmi, dicami) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"7\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(mi dica)<\/span><\/span> pure l'indirizzo, signore.\u00bb<br><br><em>The taxi driver in Brescia greets the passenger who just got in by the station: \"Good morning, please tell me the address, sir.\"<\/em><\/li><li>Il farmacista alla sig.ra Galli, che ha appena ritirato l'antibiotico: \u00abNon si (preoccupare, preoccupate, preoccupi) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"9\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(preoccupi)<\/span><\/span> , \u00e8 un dosaggio leggero, lo prenda dopo i pasti per cinque giorni.\u00bb<br><br><em>The pharmacist to Mrs Galli, who has just collected the antibiotic: \"Don't worry, it's a light dosage, take it after meals for five days.\"<\/em><\/li><li>Dopo la consegna del bracciale restaurato, la sig.ra Verdi chiede al sig. Marchetti: \u00abLei \u00e8 (contenta, contento, contenti) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"8\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(contento)<\/span><\/span> della soluzione che le abbiamo proposto per la chiusura di sicurezza?\u00bb<br><br><em>After delivering the restored bracelet, Mrs Verdi asks Mr Marchetti: \"Are you happy with the solution we proposed for the safety clasp?\"<\/em><\/li><li>All'ingresso del parrucchiere, la titolare dice alla cliente: \u00abSig.ra Conti, si \u00e8 (accomodato, accomodate, accomodata) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"10\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(accomodata)<\/span><\/span> qui alla scrivania, mentre prepariamo la fattura e le serviamo un caff\u00e8.\u00bb<br><br><em>At the entrance of the hair salon, the owner says to the client: \"Mrs Conti, you have taken a seat here at the desk, while we prepare the invoice and serve you a coffee.\"<\/em><\/li><li>Il prof. Rinaldi, in pensione, ringrazia la giovane libraia di Pavia: \u00abSignorina, Lei \u00e8 stata davvero (gentila, gentili, gentile) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"7\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(gentile)<\/span><\/span> a cercarmi quel volume di filologia romanza fuori catalogo.\u00bb<br><br><em>Prof. Rinaldi, retired, thanks the young bookseller in Pavia: \"Miss, you have been truly kind in looking for that out-of-print Romance philology volume for me.\"<\/em><\/li><\/ul><hr\/>                                    <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>12 of 12. Italian formal Lei is under control.<\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>Review:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 0 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li>Verb with Lei is third singular: <em>Lei parla, ha, sta, viene<\/em>. Not <em>parli<\/em> (that&#8217;s imperative) and not <em>parlate<\/em> (voi).<\/li>\n<li>Direct object is <em>la<\/em>, indirect is <em>le<\/em>, possessive is <em>Suo\/Sua<\/em>: <em>la chiamo<\/em>, <em>le ho mandato<\/em>, <em>il Suo numero<\/em>. Same forms whether the addressee is a man or a woman.<\/li>\n<li>Polite imperative = congiuntivo presente 3sg, with the pronoun BEFORE the verb: <em>si accomodi<\/em>, <em>mi dica<\/em>, <em>non si preoccupi<\/em>. Never <em>siediti<\/em> (tu) or <em>dicami<\/em> (tu enclitic).<\/li>\n<li>Adjectives and past participles agree with the ACTUAL sex of the person: <em>Lei e contento<\/em> (to a man), <em>contenta<\/em> (to a woman); <em>si e accomodato<\/em> \/ <em>accomodata<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_tipp\" style=\"display: none; position: relative;\">\n                                <div>\n                                    <h5 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Hint<\/h5>\n                                    <p><strong>Two questions to ask:<\/strong> (1) what kind of pronoun do you need? object pronouns stay feminine with Lei (la, le); only adjectives shift with the addressee&#8217;s sex. (2) is this a statement or a polite order? Statements take <em>parla<\/em>; orders take <em>parli<\/em> with the pronoun in front.<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"tip\" value=\"Hint\"\n                                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton wpProQuiz_TipButton\"\n                                   style=\"float: left !important; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px !important;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>2<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>2<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Spot the correct Lei sentence<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em>For each group of three, pick the ONE sentence that uses Italian formal Lei correctly.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6592\"\n                                data-type=\"multiple\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"1\"> Sig. Marchetti, Lei parla italiano benissimo per essere svizzero.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"1\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"2\"> Sig. Marchetti, Lei parli italiano benissimo per essere svizzero.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"2\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"3\"> Sig. Marchetti, Lei parlate italiano benissimo per essere svizzero.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"3\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"4\"> Prof. Rinaldi, la chiamo io domani mattina per confermare l'orario del prossimo appuntamento.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"4\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"5\"> Prof. Rinaldi, ti chiamo io domani mattina per confermare l'orario del prossimo appuntamento.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"5\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"6\"> Prof. Rinaldi, gli chiamo io domani mattina per confermare l'orario del prossimo appuntamento.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"6\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"7\"> Sig. Marchetti, Lei \u00e8 contenta del nuovo trattamento sbiancante che le ha proposto il dott. Manzini?                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"7\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"8\"> Sig. Marchetti, Lei sei contento del nuovo trattamento sbiancante che le ha proposto il dott. Manzini?                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"8\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"9\"> Sig. Marchetti, Lei \u00e8 contento del nuovo trattamento sbiancante che le ha proposto il dott. Manzini?<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"9\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"10\"> Sig.ra Conti, siediti pure qui mentre asciugo i capelli alla cliente prima di Lei.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"10\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"11\"> Sig.ra Conti, si accomodi pure qui mentre asciugo i capelli alla cliente prima di Lei.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"11\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"12\"> Sig.ra Conti, accomodatevi pure qui mentre asciugo i capelli alla cliente prima di Lei.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"12\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"13\"> Prof. Rinaldi, diamoti del tu, sarebbe pi\u00f9 comodo dopo tanti anni che ci conosciamo.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"13\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"14\"> Prof. Rinaldi, darmi del tu, sarebbe pi\u00f9 comodo dopo tanti anni che ci conosciamo.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"14\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"15\"> Prof. Rinaldi, diamoci del tu, sarebbe pi\u00f9 comodo dopo tanti anni che ci conosciamo.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"15\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"16\"> La sig.ra Galli, davanti al dentista appena conosciuto: \u00abDimmi quanto costa la cura, dottore.\u00bb                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"16\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"17\"> La sig.ra Galli, davanti al dentista appena conosciuto: \u00abMi dica quanto costa la cura, dottore.\u00bb                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"17\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_264_6592\"\n                                                       value=\"18\"> La sig.ra Galli, davanti al dentista appena conosciuto: \u00abMi dici quanto costa la cura, dottore.\u00bb                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>6 of 6. Clean work on the five English-speaker traps.<\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>The five traps in this set:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 0 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li><strong>Trap 1.<\/strong> Statement verb is third singular: <em>Lei parla<\/em>, not <em>Lei parli<\/em> (that&#8217;s the imperative).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trap 2.<\/strong> Pronouns stay feminine with Lei for any sex: <em>la chiamo<\/em>, <em>le ho mandato<\/em>. Never <em>ti<\/em> or <em>gli<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trap 3.<\/strong> Adjectives and PP agree with actual sex: <em>Lei e contento<\/em> (man), <em>contenta<\/em> (woman). Never <em>Lei sei<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trap 4.<\/strong> Polite imperative = cong. presente 3sg with pronoun before the verb: <em>si accomodi<\/em>, never <em>siediti<\/em> or <em>accomodatevi<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Switch formula.<\/strong> The proposal to switch register is <em>diamoci del tu<\/em>, never <em>diamoti<\/em> (invented) or <em>darmi<\/em> (infinitive without modal).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trap 5.<\/strong> With a stranger professional, default to Lei: <em>mi dica<\/em>, not <em>dimmi<\/em> or <em>mi dici<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_tipp\" style=\"display: none; position: relative;\">\n                                <div>\n                                    <h5 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Hint<\/h5>\n                                    <p><strong>Quick scan:<\/strong> Is the addressee a stranger over 25 or a professional? Use Lei. Then check three slots: verb (3sg, not imperative form unless ordering), pronoun (la\/le\/Suo, not ti\/tuo), and adjective\/PP (matches the person&#8217;s actual sex, not the grammatical feminine of Lei).<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"tip\" value=\"Hint\"\n                                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton wpProQuiz_TipButton\"\n                                   style=\"float: left !important; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px !important;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                            <\/ol>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            window.wpProQuizInitList = window.wpProQuizInitList || [];\n\n            window.wpProQuizInitList.push({\n                id: '#wpProQuiz_264',\n                init: {\n                    quizId: 264,\n                    mode: 2,\n                    globalPoints: 18,\n                    timelimit: 0,\n                    resultsGrade: [0,41,66,86],\n                    bo: 7560,\n                    qpp: 0,\n                    catPoints: {\"176\":12,\"177\":6},\n                    formPos: 0,\n                    lbn: \"Finish quiz\",\n                    json: {\"6591\":{\"type\":\"cloze_answer\",\"id\":6591,\"catId\":176,\"points\":[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],\"correct\":[[\"parla\"],[\"sta\"],[\"ha\"],[\"la chiamo\"],[\"le\"],[\"il suo numero\"],[\"accomodi\"],[\"mi dica\"],[\"preoccupi\"],[\"contento\"],[\"accomodata\"],[\"gentile\"]]},\"6592\":{\"type\":\"multiple\",\"id\":6592,\"catId\":177,\"points\":[1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,0],\"correct\":[1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,0]}}                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:36px;color:#ab2227;margin-top:50px;margin-bottom:10px;letter-spacing:0.3em;font-family:Georgia,serif\">\u00a7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eight questions on the italian formal Lei come up in every B1 cohort. The answers below draw on classroom usage and on the Treccani entry <a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/enciclopedia\/forme-di-cortesia_(La-grammatica-italiana)\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">forme di cortesia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the italian formal Lei?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The italian formal Lei is the polite, third-singular feminine pronoun used to address one person you do not know well: a stranger over 25, a customer, a professional, an older neighbour. Verbs go in third person singular (Lei parla, Lei ha). Object pronouns are la (direct), le (indirect), si (reflexive). Possessives are Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue, often capitalised in formal writing. Despite Lei being grammatically feminine, adjectives and past participles agree with the addressee&#8217;s actual sex.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">When should I use Lei vs tu?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Default to Lei with strangers over 25, professionals (doctor, lawyer, official, notary), customer-business contexts (hotel, bank, shop), older people you do not know personally, and any formal email. Use tu with family, close friends, peers under 25 to 30 in casual settings, and people who have explicitly invited you to switch. When in doubt, Lei is always safer for non-natives. Italians forgive over-politeness; they notice under-politeness.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why is Lei feminine even when I am talking to a man?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Historically italian Lei comes from Vostra Signoria (your lordship), a feminine noun phrase that spread under the influence of Spanish chancery formulas. The grammatical feminine has stuck even though Lei is used for both sexes. Verbs and pronouns follow the grammatical feminine: Lei parla, la chiamo, le ho mandato. Adjectives and past participles, however, agree with the addressee&#8217;s actual sex: Lei e contento for a man, Lei e contenta for a woman.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q4\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I form the imperative with Lei?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Use the third person singular of the present subjunctive. For -are verbs the ending switches to -i (parlare gives parli, aspettare gives aspetti). For -ere and -ire verbs the ending switches to -a (prendere gives prenda, aprire gives apra, finire gives finisca). Irregular forms include dica (dire), faccia (fare), vada (andare), venga (venire), stia (stare). Pronouns go BEFORE the verb: mi dica (tell me), si accomodi (please sit), me lo dia (give it to me), not dicami or accomodisi.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I switch from Lei to tu?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The traditional formula is Diamoci del tu (let&#8217;s call each other tu) or Possiamo darci del tu? (can we use tu?). The proposal usually comes from the older or more senior person. Once accepted, both parties switch immediately and stay there. Going back to Lei after the shift would sound awkward and feel like emotional distancing. If the other party is reluctant they may say Continuiamo a darci del Lei per ora (let us keep using Lei for now).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Should I capitalise Lei in writing?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In modern italian formal writing, Lei and its related pronouns and possessives are often capitalised (Lei, La, Le, Suo, Sua) to distinguish them from third-person lei meaning she. The convention is more common in business correspondence, legal letters, formal job applications and official notices. In casual emails, text messages and social media the capitalisation is dropped. Both styles are accepted; capital Lei signals extra formality and respect.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q7\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the formal plural of Lei?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In modern italian, voi serves as both the informal and the formal plural, used for any group of people regardless of formality. The historical Loro (third-plural formal address) survives only in hyper-formal restaurant service, royal protocol and old-fashioned writing. In everyday italian, voi covers both informal and formal plural address: voi siete contenti? works for friends, clients and customers alike.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-lei-q8\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What are the most common polite phrases with Lei?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Five formulas cover most polite interactions: si accomodi (please sit, make yourself at home), mi dica (tell me, how can I help), non si preoccupi (don&#8217;t worry), mi scusi (excuse me, I am sorry), prego, si serva (please help yourself). Add mi creda (believe me), aspetti un attimo (wait a moment), mi segua (follow me) and you have the entire customer-service vocabulary of italian hotels, shops, offices and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related\">Related guides<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-imperative\/\">Italian Imperative: Forms, Pronouns and Polite Usage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-stressed-pronouns\/\">Italian Stressed Pronouns: When to Use Me, Te, Lui, Lei<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-modal-verbs\/\">Italian Modal Verbs: Dovere, Potere, Volere, Sapere<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-pronominal-verbs\/\">Italian Pronominal Verbs: When the Pronoun Changes Meaning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/enciclopedia\/forme-di-cortesia_(La-grammatica-italiana)\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Treccani: forme di cortesia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udd0d In short. The italian formal Lei is the polite address used with strangers, professionals, customers, older people. Grammatically Lei is third person singular feminine, regardless of the addressee&#8217;s actual sex. Verbs go third singular (come sta?), object pronouns are la, le, si, possessives are Suo, Sua, Suoi, Sue. Adjectives and past participles, however, agree &#8230; <a title=\"Italian Formal Lei: When to Switch Register (B1)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-formal-lei\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Italian Formal Lei: When to Switch Register (B1)\">Read more \u226b<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10020,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1865],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-b1","no-featured-image-padding","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10020"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43740"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61196,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43740\/revisions\/61196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}